The House of Representatives has voted in favor of ordering President George W Bush to pull US troops out of Iraq.

The bill links 124bn dollar (£62bn) funding for the war to a 31 August 2008 deadline for the withdrawal of all US combat troops.

It was passed by 218 votes to 212 by the Democratic-controlled House. Correspondents say it is the boldest challenge yet to Mr Bush's strategy.

The president has made clear he will veto the bill.

The White House says legislators should allow more time for his new strategy - which includes sending 28,000 extra troops to Iraq - to work.

'High stakes'

"The American people have lost faith in the president's conduct of this war," House leader Nancy Pelosi said.

"The American people see the reality of war. The president does not."

However some Democratic representatives voted against the bill, because they said it would not put an immediate end to the war.

Most Republicans opposed the legislation, which they said would represent an admission of failure in Iraq.

"The stakes in Iraq are too high and the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families too great to be content with anything but success," Republican Roy Blunt said.

Photo caption

US troops in Iraq